This isn’t meant to be a heavy, scientific article. It’s a practical oriented post on what helps increase bone mass if you have osteoporosis or osteopenia. And what can help you prevent ever getting osteoporosis. I will add some documentation for my claims, but there’s no lengthy discussions back and forth.  I won’t go into how TSH could or could not affect our skeleton. Or if us with thyroid disease have a higher risk of getting osteoporosis. 

I have osteoporosis, and I just want to share what has helped me. Because I HAVE increased my bone mass. And I will include my 3 DXAs to prove it. 

I had no idea my bone mass was poor when I learned, I had osteoporosis. I had taken an X-ray thorax for another reason. A nice doctor called me up unexpectedly, asking me, are you aware, you have a fracture in your back? NO 😨 I didn’t know. I had had a bad pain between my shoulderblades for a couple of years, but that had gotten better. I had never thought, it was a fracture. And that’s actually typical of osteoporosis fractures in the spine, they hurt really bad for while, but then hurt less. It will never be like it never happend though. I can still feel it. 

Unfortunately, it’s also a little typical of me. I can just endure pain. When I maybe should have it looked into it. Not that one can DO anythong with a fracture like that. but at least, I would have learned, I have osteoporosis a little earlier.  

I think everyone who has had very low TSH over time, whether it’s from hyperthyroidism or treatment with a T4 and T3 combo, should  keep an eye on their skeleton. All women past menopause really.  I wish I had. And I wanted to. But many doctors here in Denmark don’t believe in testing vitamins and minerals. I could not get them to test me. Now I have a doctor who tests everything I ask for. But for many years I didn’t. I don’t think it would have progressed to osteoporosis if I had stayed in  Norway. Where they are much more into prevention.  Don’t do like me. I gave up. I did change doctor, but one was as bad as the other. Till I found the one I have now, after 13 years.

I am glad it was a nice doctor that called. Because it was a shock, a real shock. I was down for quite a while. I felt old. I was 60 at the time. It doesn’t really run in my family. Both my mother and my grandfather had osteoporosis, but much later in life. I am not that good with growing older. I have always been vain I suppose. I am 5 cm shorter because of the fracture. But accepting aging is so necessary. One can do what one can. I try to focus on gratitude for my body and what I CAN do still. Which is quite a bit. It has helped a lot, that I have increased my bone mass since then. Particularly in the spine. The hips are a little better, have not gotten worse in the 6 years. But my spine has gotten much stronger. And that’s why, I want to share what has helped ME.

The argument from patients is often, being hyperthyroid is something totally different from supressed TSH because of treatment with T3. Because in hyperthyroidism, the free hormones are high, above range. And it’s not just the supressed TSH.  And in Graves patients, TRAb is also elevated. And I agree wit that, it’s very different. People on T4/T3 usually have their free hormones within range.  It’s the FT3 top we get a couple of hours after ingestion, that pushes our TSH down. It only lasts a short time, and the FT3 then lowers again. You can read about FT3 ups and downs in T3 therapy here. There is also a thyroid hormone metabolite called Triac that also suppresses  the TSH. It’s a good thing actually. You can read more about that here.

Doctors have got it into their heads, that suppressed TSH means danger to the skeleton. I think very few of them have looked into studies on it. They all take the results from studies on hyperthyroidism as applying to all patients with low TSH. Studies show conflicting results. And that’s why I won’t get too deep into that on this post.

One finds TSH receptors not only in the thyroid gland. Though they are most numerous there. But there are also TSH receptors in the immune system and in the skeleton. One doesn’t know all about the TSH receptor’s functions in these other places.

The point is, many of us need T3 in addition to our T4. We don’t have a choice if we want to have a good life. And enough T3 is absolutely vital for our physical and mental health. But osteoporosis can be prevented, and even treated. I do not regret at all, that I have had suppressed TSH for years. I had no choice. I convert very poorly, there is no way I could survive on T4 only. What I do regret, is not taking better care of my skeleton. And that’s what I hope YOU  will do. 

One finds TSH receptorers at several sites in the body. Most numerous in the thyroid gland. But also in other organs; in the immune system and in the skeleton. One doesn’t know everything about the function of TSH in these non thyroid places. 

I don’t think we as patients should go too deeply into discussions about suppressed TSH and osteoporosis. I find, that our argument for being allowed a suppressed TSH must be, that we don’t have a choice. If we don’t convert, we MUST have T3. You can read more about how to calculate your conversion rate, and about optimal thyroid levels here.

The argument must be that living with hypothyroidism, which is what you do when you have too low levels, is dangerous on so many levels. Liver disease, high cholesterol, heart disease, depression, dementia. And not the least, one feels miserable, exhausted, depressed. A life that doesn’t feel worth living. It’s our bodies, our lives. It must be up to us. I will never understand, why it is that people with thyroid disease are treated like children. I have never heard, doctors denying diabetics insulin. There are plenty of diabetics who don’t eat the way they should, and just injects loads of insulin.

I have had 3 DXA’s so far, over 6 years. They are in Danish obviously, but you can read the numbers and the Latin names are the same. The point of sharing them, is that they have IMPROVED every time. My bone density is better now than 6 years ago. In fact, if it wasn’t for my fracture, I would have osteopenia now. But when one has had one osteoporosis fracture, one has osteoporosis forever.  No matter how much one’s bone mass strengthens. 

Especially my lumbar spine has really improved. I am so happy about that. If you have gotten a diagnosis of osteopenia or osteoporosis, don’t despair, ACT!

25052018

Undersøgelsesdato: 25-05-2018 14:38
Beskrivelsen sidst godkendt: 28-05-2018 12:49
Undersøgelse(r): DEXA, ryg og begge hofte
Indikation:
ønsket us: DXA
–> Indikation: Anamnese: Har fået taget røntgen af thorax i hospitalsregi. Det viser kileformet Th8,
obs sammenfald.
Er blevet tilrådet udredning for osteoporose.
Ikke brækket andre knogler.
Ikke ryger.

Henvises til dxa skanning
Henvisningsdiagnose: osteoporose obs pro
Bidiagnose: sammenfald i ryg
Beskrivelse:
Måleresultater viser: Lumbal osteoporose i L1+L3+L4 (total T-score= -2,8), L2 er udeladt pga.
degenerative forandringer.
Lav knogletæthed i begge collum femoris, lavest i højre neck (T-score= -2,2).
Det findes ingen tidligere dexa-scanning til sammenligning.
T-score tolkning:
T-score -1 eller derover: Normal
T-score under -1 men over -2,5: Lav knogletæthed
T-score -2,5 eller derunder: Osteoporose

04092020

Beskrivelsen sidst godkendt: 5-09-2020 13:21 Undersøgelse(r): DEXA, ryg og begge hofte Indikation: Beskrivelse: Måleresultater viser: Lumbalt L1-L3-L4 (total T-score = -2,6). Højre collum femoris (neck T-score = -2,3 og total T-score = -1,4). Venstre collum femoris (neck T-score = -1,9 og total T-score = -1,5).

Konklusion: Osteoporose. Sammenholdt med forrige undersøgelse d. 25.05.2018 er knogletætheden i columna lumbalis og højre collum femoris total begge steget, men ikke signifikant. venstre collum femoris total uændret.

Kommentar T-score tolkning: T-score -1 eller derover: Normal. T-score under -1 men over -2,5: Lav knogletæthed. T-score -2,5 eller derunder: Osteoporose. Overlæge Bartram, Peter Beskrivelsen godkendt / / Bartram, Peter / 05-09-2020 13:21 Kontraststof/Radiofarmaka givet: Administrationsform:

Om undersøgelsen

DEXA, ryg og begge hofte Undersøgelsesdato: 04.09.2020 kl. 10:58 Undersøgelses ID: REGH15827151

Undersøgelsesdato: 03-07-2023 10:02

Måleresultater viser: Columna lumbalis T-score: -1,8 Måleområde: L1-L4 Højre femur T-score: -2,1 Måleområde(*): Collum femoris Venstre femur T-score: -1,9 Måleområde(*): Collum femoris (*) Af måleområderne collum femoris og femur, total er lokationen med laveste T-score valgt

Kommentarer: – Sideoptagelse af columna (vertebral fracture assessment, VFA) giver mistanke om sammenfald af(*): Vertebra Th8 Bikonkav type Moderat grad (*) Type og grad af sammenfald efter Genants semikvantitative skala3. Konklusion: Knogletæthed lavt i normalområdet (osteopeni). Sideoptagelse af columna (VFA) giver mistanke om sammenfald af Th8. (Bemærk: Patienter med lavenergibrud i ryg eller hofte har osteoporose uanset T-score1. Lavenergibrud = fald fra/på samme niveau eller ved daglig belastning). Direkte sammenligning med DXA fra 04.09.2020 ikke mulig, da denne er udført på en ældre skanner af andet fabrikat. Anbefalinger for eventuel gentagelse af DXA-skanning1,4 (forudsat en uændret risikoprofil): Resultat af DXA-skanning Tidsinterval mellem skanninger Ved T-score = -1,0 (Generelt en individuel vurdering) Alder > 75 år > 10 år Alder < 75 år 5 år Ved T-score mellem -1,0 og -2,0 (Som hovedregel 3-5 år) Mænd 5 år Kvinder med menopausealder > 5 år 5 år Kvinder med menopausealder < 5 år 2-3 år Ved T-score = -2,0 Alle patienter 2-3 år

 

Calsium

Even though I have calsium on top, I don’t think it’s the most important. Unless you are depleted of course. I take calsium every day, but I don’t take high doses, I take 600 to 800 mg/day. The official recommendations is often 1000 mg. Earlier, one often adviced large doses. But for one thing, the intestine cannot absorb more than 600 mg at a time. So if you do take large doses, divide it. I also take magensium. I have fibromyalgia, so I take magnesium malate. Which is especially good for that condition.  Magnesium is also important for the bones. 

It can be detrimental to take more calsium than your body needs. You can get calsium deposits where you don’t want them. One can get calsification of the arteries, the arteries become stiff. The end result can be high blood pressure. Calsium is part of the plaque that coats the arteries, and which is so dangerous for us. 

In some studies and articles, they claim, that calsium supplements we take does not contribute to this plaque. They say, it’s cells in the artery walls that don’t function the way they are supposed to (1). Mostly due to age. At the same time, they say one can counteract it with eating right and working out.  

But here they say something else (2). Here they say, large doses of calsium is not a good thing. And that one doesn’t see a higher bone density in those taking high doses. They also say, it’s especially bad taking large doses at a time. High doses are hard on the kidneys, and can lead to kidney stones. The kidneys have to excrete what the body does not absorb. But they are talking really high doses in this study. It’s not a proven fact, but something they believe. 

Over prolonged periods of high calcium intake, however, the retained additional calcium is likely to be deposited in soft tissues and pre-existing atherosclerotic plaques (see below under Arterial Calcification) rather than in structural bone as calcium apatite. Concern has arisen that a positive calcium balance in these individuals may be expressed as soft tissue and vascular pathologic calcifications.

Vitamin D is very important, as I am sure everybody knows. It’s vital for the bones, as it increases the uptake of calsium. Earlier people in the North often suffered from vitamin D deficiency in childhood, and it led to rickets. The bones grew soft and the person would get bowed legs. I was born in 1957, and I have seen people with rickets. We don’t have serious vitamin D deficiency in the North anylonger in white people. But people with dark skin who moves here can get vitamin D deficiency. Most people here in Northern Europe usually take vitamin D, at least in winter. I take it year round. People with AITD should make sure to be replete on vitamin D. 

We know now, we need more vitamin D than most of us get through our skin. I see thyroid patients in groups saying, one should have as high vitamin D as possible. Preferably around 150 nmol/L. I don’t believe such high levels are beneficial. I aim for around 100 nmol/L myself. Studies say, for the bones, 50 nmol/L is sufficient. But vitamin D is a prohormone, and have many functions in our bodies besides our bones. Very high levels can be negative. This is an article on the subject, and the quote below is also from that article (3). The article is from 2014, and lots have happende since then. There is a lot of research going on on vitamin D. I believe around 100 nmol/L is sufficient, and that it is safest to not lie very high. 

What does vitamin D do for the skeleton?

The primary role of 1,25(OH)D in the body is the maintenance of calcium homeostasis. Low serum calcium concentrations are sensed in the parathyroid gland by a calcium-sensing receptor and this causes increased secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH). This stimulates renal production of 1,25(OH)D, which increases calcium uptake in the intestine and, in a negative-feedback loop, suppresses PTH secretion.

One knows now, that vitmain D has many other functions in the body as well. But the calsium homeostatis is after all the most important. Vitamin D is not a vitamin, but a prohormone. But this is a post on osteoporosis, so I won’t dive too deep into it here.

Taking vitamin D with a meal containing some fat, is very smart. In a study, one found that the group taking the vitamine with a meal, had a 32% higher blood serum level than the the ones who didn’t. I don’t know how much differnce it makes, to take it in capsules versus in tablet form. If the fat in the capsules is enough for the uptake.  

I have taken vitmain K2 since I learned I have osteoporosis. It’s very important when you supplement calsium. It’s importnat in general, and not that easy to get enough through diet. There is less vitamin K in food these days, it gets broken down in our ultra processed food. If you eat heaps of green leafy vegetables, you might get enough. But even if you do, with taking calsium, it’s safest to supplement. 

K2 has two very important functions in the body:

K2 hinders calsium from depositing in places we don’t want it.

And it activates a protein; matrix GLA, which  stops calsium from adhering to the arteriers. (4)  This is from the article:

Bone is composed of a hard outer shell and a spongy matrix of inner tissues and is a living substance. The entire skeleton is replaced every 7 to 10 years. During the skeleton’s remodeling, the body releases calcium from the bone into the bloodstream to meet an individual’s metabolic needs, allowing the bone to alter size and shape as it grows or repairs from injuries.13 This remodeling is regulated by osteoblasts—cells that build up the skeleton—and osteoclasts—cells that break down the skeleton. As long as the bone-forming activity (ie, absorption) is greater than the breakdown of bone (ie, resorption), the process of maintaining a healthy bone structure is maintained.

Osteoblasts produce osteocalcin, which helps take calcium from the blood circulation and bind it to the bone matrix. In part, osteocalcin influences bone mineralization through its ability to bind to the mineral component of bone, hydroxyapatite,14 which in turn makes the skeleton stronger and less susceptible to fracture. The newly made osteocalcin, however, is inactive, and it needs vitamin K2 to become fully activated and bind calcium.

So, it’s obvious, vitamin K2 is very important for both a strong skeleton and for the health of our arteries. 

It’s important to eat some fat at the same time as taking vitamin K. Especially if you take it in tablet form. That helps absorbtion. 

I can’t prove it. But I believe, that my starting to supplement boron is the main reason my skeleton has grown stronger. That, and exercise. A hairmineral analysis showed, that I had absolutely no boron in my body. 

Most people have never even heard of boron. But boron is very important for the skeleton. It’s importanf for the “sponge” part of the skeleton. What’s called the trabecular bone tissue. It comprises 20% of the bone. It’s also here the bone marrow is situated. Boron is very important for the repair of this tissue. This study  (5) showed that mouse who got zero boron in their feed, ended up with this tissue becoming softer, and their shin bone became less strong. And that was after only 9 weeks! Of course, 9 weeks is a long time in the life of a mouse. 

Boron is also important for the absorption of other minerals, it increases the absorption. It increases the half life of vitamin D and estrogen. So increases these levels. Boron is important for estrogen- and testosterone levels.

Do I get enough boron?

You get boron from green,leafy vegetables, like kale and spinach. In fruit (not citrus), potatoes, coffee, legumes, cereals, dried fruit and nuts. I don’t know if YOU get enough, but like I wrote, I was totally depleted. Even though I eat a lot of those foods. Daily recommended dosage is 3 mg. I take a lot more than that. maybe 30 mg/day. I take it in the form of Borax. That is much cheaper if you take larger doses.  Borax isn’t legal here in Scandinavia, but you get it in the UK and the US. I don’t know why it’s not legal, it’s just boron. You can find Borax groups on Facebook, with tips and advice. But that is for those who take a special interest. If you don’t belong to that group, take a supplement with 3 mg. And make sure to eat these foods. You could do a hair mineral analysis. I believe 3 mg is not enough, but you must decide for yourself. 

Dr.Jorge Flechas is a big advocate for boron. And iodine. His wife had osteoporosis or osteopenia, I don’t remember. After supplementing boron, her bone density improved immensely. You find several videos with him on YouTube. Just search his name. 

In the borax groups, people also take boron for their arthritis.

I haven’t taken collagen for that long . I wish I had started earlier, because it’s important when you have osteoporosis. There are several kinds of collagen. It’s type I and III that are important for bones. In this study from 2018 (6), they divided postmenopausal women into 2 groups. One group got a collagen product called Fortibone, the other got placebo. They had a spoonful a day, 7 grams, that is 5 grams of collagen. Bovine collagen. They supervised what they ate and how much they worked out. The group on collagen, had increased their bone density after 12 months. And they had increased bone markers, something that indicates increased bone formation, and decreased bone degeneration. .  

They conclude, that this product, Fortibone, increases the bone mass especially much. They call it bioactive. But they didn’t compare it to a group taking other collagen products. So I don’t know how they can claim that. I mention this product, because I see many people mentioning this  product online. It seems they have bought this hook, line and sinker. The research on it is funded by the company. There are other studies, where the participants are given “normal” collagen and palcebo, and where the results also show increased bone density. The makers of Fortibone calls it “bioactive”. All food and supplements are bioactive. It just means “having an effect on a living organism”. Fortibone is expencive. I take regular collagen type I and III . I am a sceptic, there is so much hustle in this world.  

Collagen is a protein. It comprises as much as 30% of our bone mass. It plays a part in how calsium and phosphorus bind to the bone tissue. So very important for the bone regenration. We make less collagen with age. Vitamine C is important for collagen production. 

I can’t tell you exactly how much collagen to take. 5 or 10 grams is a normal dose. Start low and increase over time. It can affect your stools, make them loose.

Exercise 

Exercise is maybe the most important measure to help increase bone density. Or prevent osteoporosis. If you don’t move, you won’t improve. It’s important to do some strainous exercise, but you have to take the state of your skeleton into account. If you are uncertain, confer with your doctor, physiotherapist or chiropractor. The reason why it’s important to do hard exercise, is because the skeleton needs to be a little “damaged”, in order to repair itself.  It’s also importan with some shocks to it, for the same reason. I do some light jumping. But here you need to figure out, what’s right for you. There are lots of videoes on YouTube, how to shock the spine with care. It can be standing on your tip toes and lowering the heels.   One sees a greater bone density in athletes doing sports involving jumping, like basket ball, foot ball than in for instance swimming. This is a study on exercise and bone density (7). They look at several studies and conclude, that there are two kinds of exercise that are very imortant:

Weight-bearing exercise.  An activity that the skeletal system does against gravity. Things like walking, jogging, dancing, walk stairs and aerobics.

Resistance training like weight training and swimming. 

Walking doesn’t increase bone mass. But it prevents loss of bone mass. And it’s something we can do every day, and it gives us so much on so many levels. We can go for a walk even on the days we feel bad. Having a dog helps a lot. But it’s not enough, we need to do more. One has to start where one is of course. If you are hypo thyroid, maybe have fibromyalgia or other issues, be patient with yourself. Take it step by step. But to build strength, you have to exert yourself a bit. It’s not enough to swing a light weight 20 times. Better a heavier weight, and make fewer repetitions. You should feel it, get the pulse up even when yu weight train. The muscle fibers should also be damaged a bit during training, and then repair themselves after. 

I am by no means an expert. Even though I have worked out for many years. I have had periods where I have been too tired and sick to work out. But I have always started up again.

I only work out at home these days, I can’t be bothered with going to a gym. There are so many great instuctors on YouTube. These are my favorites, Physical Exercise   

All three sex hormones play important roles for muscle and skeleton. I take estradiol and natural progesterone. I am not taking large doses estrogen now. I am 66 and I don’t want the levels of a young woman. But I don’t want to be at the bottom of the range either, like many elderly women are. I have written an article on sex hormones, you find it here. If you are worried about doing HRT, you can read studies on it there, and see what’s safe and what’s not safe. There is much confusion and misconceptions about HRT. I have tried to clear things up for you in that post. 

Estrogen

Everybody knows that estrogen is important for bone density.  That it’s as our estrogen levels go down, that women get osteoporosis. Estrogen palys a key role in both the regulation of bone density and strength through controlling bone forming osteoblasts and bone reabsorbing osteoclasts.

Progesterone

Progesterone also appear to be important for bone density. Both for the formation of new bone and bone turnover. Some speculate, that progesterone is more important than estrogen. I don’t know if that is true. But regardless, I would not supplement estrogen without balancing it out with progesterone. 

Here is one study (8)where they got much better results for the group given both estrogen and progesterone, than estogen alone. Women who had recently gone through menopause, were divided into 3 groups. They were all part of one large group who were taking estrogen as an early intervention against bone loss. At this point, one group got placebo, one group conjugated estrogens ( you find info on that on my female hormones post) and the third group, estradiol and natural progesterone. It’s an open access study, you can look at the results yourself.

Both group 2 and 3 retained more bone density than group 1. But group 3 was significantly better. It was the cortical, compact bone mass in particular that  was strengthend, not so much the spongy. The compact bone mass is the outer bone mass.  

Testosterone

Testosterone is important, both for muscle- and bone mass. But there aren’t that many studies on testoterone’s importance for bone mass after menopause. But here is one study from 2022 (9)

They look at a large group of women (1058) between 49 and 59 years old. Over several years. They estimate the bone density and total testosterone. And they find, there is a correlation between the two. It’s an open study, you can read it. Many women get very low on testoterone in ole age, and even more so, women with thyroid disease. You can read about that too on my Female hormones post.  Men with thyroid disease also are lower on testosterone than healthy men. That goes for both hypo- and hyperthyroid.  

It’s my opinion, that all thyroid patients should have their testosterone level monitored. And get supplemented if needed. I know I should have been given some testosterone many years ago. But here in Denmark, testosterone for women is not done in public health service. In Norway it’s easier to get it. In the US, I believe it’s even easier. 

If you are worried about taking sex hormones and think, it will give me breast cancer or blood clots, please read my post. I have a lot of science on that post.

What about medications for osteoporosis? Do they work? Are they good for us? The medication doctors give osteoporosis patients, are called bisphosphonates. They bind to the bone tissue and slows down the breakdown of it.

Many health info sites talk only of the positives. And it is true, there are good results when it comes to breakages of the hip and spine. There are many studies, but they are a little difficult to navigate. It’s difficult to find studies on how much they actually increase the  bone density. But I have read somewhere, they can increase the density with app. 5%. In this meta study, (10), they say, the meds reduces breakages in hip and spine by 50%. Which is a lot.

I must admit, I haven’t done a deep dive in the science on bisphosphonates. It’s probably because I don’t take them myself. I got it prescribed, and took it a few times. It just didn’t feel right to me. One is supposed to drink a lot of water and stay upright for 30 minutes after ingesting the tablet. That alarmed me. I felt that it couldn’t be good for my esophagus. And thank God I did, but I have since leraned that I have acid reflux and a hernia in my esophagus. So I will say, at the very least, have a gastroscopy before starting on this medicine.  Because it can hard on the esophagus. But you can get it intravenously, and avoid the whole esophagus thing. As for an increased risk of esophagus cancer, I can’t really say. This is an article on the pro’s and cons  (11) It’s pretty positive to the treatment, maybe downplaying the cons a little bit. You judge for yourself. It probably depends on the state of your esophagus, whether to do oral or intravenous. Or at all. 

I have issues with my teeth. I have since childhood. And because of that, I am grateful that I didn’t start Alendronate. Because it can give one  problems with the jaw bone, one  can get osteonecrosis. It is rare, so don’t get worried if you already are taking Alendronate. But it’s quite serious. There is too low blood flow to the jaw. Teeth can fall out, the bone gets exposed and a painful wound can be the result.

Here in Denmark, you have to go to a specialist dentist when you are on Alendronate. At least for more invasive procedures. I am glad I don’t have to do that. I spend a fortune on my teeth as it is. And I have a dentist that I trust. I don’t know the rules for this in other countries. But doctors should inform patients about this before starting the treatment. And they don’t.

Please don’t read this as I am advising against taking this medication. I don’t want that responsibility. They do work, but they also have some side effects. Another side effect, or rather, adverse effect, is an increased risk of fracture to the femur, femoral neck fracture. One believes it is caused by a too low bone turnover. If you get pain in the thighs when taking Alendronate, contact your doctor immediately. One does not see fractures like that in people taking Alendronate for under 5 years. I actually just heard about a friend of a friend, who has osteoporosis. And takes Alendronate. She just broke her femoral neck. At home, falling into a soft chair. She first fell on the soft armrest, then she slid down into the chair. That was enough. It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. 

One can aslo get eye inflammation. People with hypo-or hyperthyroid very often have eye issues. Dry eyes and some have TED, thyroid eye disease. Many think, only people with hyperthyroid get TED, but hypothyroid can also get it. Even a few with normal thyroid levels get it. So this side effect can pose a problem for us. I don’t know how prevalent it is.

Prolia

This is another medication. You can read about it here. It contains denosunab. It works the same way as bisphosphonates, it binds to receptors on the bone tissue and inhibits the bone tissue degradation.  It’s given as a subcutane injection. Twise a year. It costs 8x as much as alendronate. But they seem to be comparable in effectiveness (12).  

This medication has side effects as well. It’s not harmless. 

 

I think this doctor has a lot of good info on osteoporosis:

I hope this is helpful. That it can inspire you to prevent bone loss better than I did. So you don’t GET osteoporosis. And if you already have osteopenia or osteoporosis, that you found something that can help you increase your bone mass.

The most important thing for us with thyroid disease, is of course having our thyroid levels in balance. Having an optimal free T3 level. That goes for both the hypo-and the hyperthyroid. 

References

  1. https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/ask-the-experts/calcification-of-arteries
  2. J.J.B Anderson. Risk of High Dietary Calsium for Arterial Calcification in Older Adults. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3820054/

  3. What is the optimal level of vitamin D? Separating the evidence from the rhetoric. https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2014/march/vitamin-d

  4. K.Marsetz. Proper Calcium Use: Vitamin K2 as a Promoter of Bone and Cardiovascular Health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4566462/
  5. A.A.Gorustovich and F.H. NielseÖn.Effects of Nutritional Deficiency of Boron on the Bones of the Appendicular Skeleton of Mice. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30182352/
  6. D. König et al. Specific Collagen Peptides Improve Bone Mineral Density and Bone Markers in Postmenopausal Women—A Randomized Controlled Study. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5793325
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